Natural Perception
Environmental Images and Aesthetics in International Law

This book shows how interpretation of visual images in international environmental law can inform judgements of the environment's aesthetic value.

Alice Palmer (Author)

9781009350129, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 June 2023

256 pages
28 x 19 x 2.1 cm, 0.607 kg

Images of nature abound in the practice of international environmental law but their significance in law is unclear. Drawing on visual jurisprudence, and interpretative methods for visual art, this book analyses photographs for their representations of nature's aesthetic value in treaty processes that concern world heritage, whales and biodiversity. It argues that visual images should be embraced in the prosaic practice of international law. Particularly for treaties that demand judgements of nature's aesthetic value. This environmental value is in practice conflated with natural beauty, ethical and cultural values, and displaced by economic and scientific values. Interpretations of visual images can serve instead to critique and conceive sensory, imaginative and emotional appreciations of nature from different cultural perspectives as proposed by philosophers of environmental aesthetics. Addressing questions of value and the visual, this landmark book shows how images can be engaged by nations to better protect the environment under international law.

1. In the frame: an introduction
2. The environment's 'Aesthetic' value
3. Legal interpretation of Aesthetic value
4. Images and aesthetics for international environmental law
5. Valuing Aesthetics of world natural heritage
6. The art of image in the whaling in the Antarctic case
7. Fragmented Aesthetics of biodiversity
8. Beyond the frame: a conclusion
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Jurisprudence & general issues [LA]